Hulk Hogan may be on his way back to WWE, and sooner than you might expect.
The WWE is clearly putting a lot of resources behind its upcoming show in Saudi Arabia. The company’s clear emphasis on The Greatest Royal Rumble has people speculating that it might be the perfect event to host Hulk Hogan for his return to the company.
Occasional WWE personality Peter Rosenberg called the chances of Hogan returning in Saudi Arabia as high as 50 percent. No other sources have come forward with that sort of veracity, but it’s worth noting that Rosenberg does have significant contacts within the company. He didn’t claim to have any inside knowledge on his Cheap Heat podcast, but he did openly discuss the idea of Hogan making his return.
The idea behind booking Hogan for a return in Saudi Arabia is similar to the company’s thought process about booking Roman Reigns rematch against Brock Lesnar outside of the United States. Simply put, the foreign audience will be more malleable to how WWE wants them to react. That’s why the smart money expects Reigns to finally go over Lesnar at the Greatest Royal Rumble. The Saudi fans are much more likely to cheer his win than their American counterparts.
It stands to reason that the Saudi crowd would also be more welcoming of a Hogan return. The country isn’t exactly renowned as the home of social justice and inclusion. If there was ever a fan base that would be willing to cheer Hogan despite his previous racist remarks, it would be this one.
Next: Which stars moved during the Superstar shakeup?
If you assume, as I do, that Hogan’s return to the WWE is inevitable. It’s reasonable to think that his return will come in the safest crowd environment possible. The Greatest Royal Rumble certainly provides WWE with an opportunity to reintroduce Hulkamania to wrestling fans around the world.